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Home , Jered Weaver, Kevin Jepsen, Mickey Hatcher, Mike Scioscia, Nick Adenhart, Scot Shields

Photographs by John W. McDonough Touched By an Angel Inspired by the memory of — and the remarkable recovery of his friend Jon Wilhite—L.A. has overcome a bleak start to seize control of the AL West | By Lee Jenkins

hen Angels pitching Mike Butcher walked out of the UC Irvine Medical Center at dawn on April 9, one of his players was dead, two of the player’s friends were dead and a third friend was on Wlife support, his skull no longer attached to his spinal column. Butcher wanted to believe that the third friend could pull through, but after what he had seen that night, hope was hard to muster. “His chances,” Butcher says, “were slim to none.” Dr. Nitin Bhatia, the 36-year-old director of the Spine Center at UCI, had delivered the grisly diagnosis: internal decapitation. “I read the CT scan, and it was depressing,” Bhatia says. “Ninety-five percent of people with internal decapitation die immediately or within a day or two. Of the other five percent, most are either quadriplegic or on a ventilator the rest of their lives.” By the afternoon of April 9 the baseball world had learned of the death of Angels starting Nick Adenhart and his friends Courtney Stewart and Bound by tragedy Weaver (left) pays tribute Henry Pearson in a car crash, and information started to emerge to Adenhart before every about that other passenger, a 24-year-old youth baseball coach start and had a hug for named Jon Wilhite, who had been a at Cal State–Fullerton. Wilhite (right), who threw out the first pitch in One television network reported that he too was dead. Anaheim on Aug. 29. After a somber meeting with Jim Adenhart, Nick’s father, in

september 14, 2009 | Sports IllustrateD

Sports Illustrated 09/14/2009 ANGELS.l/o LEFT PAGE 54/1 of 5 Sports Illustrated 09/14/2009 ANGELS.l/o righT PAGE 55/1 of 5 Version: 21 09/06/2009 05:59PM / McAdams / Crawford / Lemire Version: 24 09/06/2009 05:59PM / McAdams / Crawford / Lemire A.D./ext: Long Name Here/x0000 09/06/2009 03:23PM sskalocky1271 A.D./ext: Long Name Here/x0000 09/06/2009 03:23PM sskalocky1271 Revise comments: ART FINAL Revise comments: ART FINAL___OOF to aljust headline 09/06/2009 08:20PM sskalocky1271 ±Local Read± ±Conference± ±Art Approval± ±:Updates/Checks ±HOLD:Art ±Local Read± ±Conference± ±Art Approval± ±HOLD:Updates/Checks ±HOLD:Art Angels

their clubhouse that afternoon, the Angels Rallying Support vowed to use baseball as their sanctuary. There can be a different hero every day for the Angels, here celebrating a 12th- But on the first road trip after the crash, win over Boston, but Morales they lost five of six games, suggesting that (below) has provided the biggest lift. there was no escape. By the time they came home to Anaheim lungs, fractured disks, torn muscles, broken on April 21, their most feared hitter, Vladimir ribs and swelling in his brain. Bhatia screwed Guerrero, had gone on the disabled list, join- a ring, called a halo vest, into Wilhite’s skull ing four of their starting . Their bull- and sent him to the intensive care unit. “They pen had an 8.31 ERA, worst in the majors. brought his body back to life,” Bhatia says. Their lineup had scored the ­second-fewest Six days after the crash Wilhite lay face- runs in the AL. Worst of all, their top pitching down on an operating table as Bhatia and prospect was gone and never coming back. a team of 30 prepared to reattach his skull “What’s happening to us right now is men- to his spine. A nurse asked Bhatia, “Are tal,” centerfielder said then. you nervous?” He certainly had reason to “Guys miss Nick. They’re mourning.” When the team gathered on April 23 “Big events bring for a private memorial service at , you together or tear told the players to move you apart,” says on in their own time and in their own way. But Jepsen. “Nick’s death he reminded them: “We will move on.” made us .” The Angels have won the be. “Every step could kill Wilhite could not re- his parents what exactly had happened to people are still out there,” says Weiss. “It’s Morales, who five homers and knocked West four times in the past five years and were him,” Bhatia says. “Turn- member anything about him on April 9 and what had happened to become a part of all of us.” in nine runs during that stretch. Morales is widely expected to do it again this season. ing him the slightest bit on the evening of April 9. He the others in the car. The Angels kept Adenhart’s locker no stranger to emotional struggle. He tried Despite losing free-­agent first baseman Mark the table could give him could not remember going His parents told him the truth, that every­ ­intact—complete with the water bottle on 12 times to defect from Cuba. Either his boat Teixeira to the Yankees and closer Francisco permanent paralysis. It’s to the Angels’ game and one else in the car had been killed, but Wil- the top shelf—and reserved a locker for him didn’t show or wasn’t seaworthy or police Rodriguez to the Mets last winter, they had a tightrope. Every step has watching Adenhart pitch hite’s pain medication was so strong that on the road. hung caught him in the act. Three times he was gone 26–8 in , leading the to be perfect.” six scoreless , or the reality did not completely register. In Adenhart’s jersey in the dugout before every arrested and sentenced to 72 hours in jail. majors in batting average and runs. But on Bhatia and his team start- hopping into Stewart’s sil- fact, Wilhite was so disoriented that he kept game, and after Shields went on the DL in After Morales finally escaped in 2004, he May 1 they were 9–13 and stuck in third place ed by cutting a nine-inch in- ver Mitsubishi Eclipse af- insisting to friends and family that he was in May, equipment manager Ken Higdon took signed with the Angels, and even though he in their division. “We had the worst month a cision into the back of Wil- terward and heading to a Texas, even though Wilhite had a clear view over the duties, followed by relief pitcher is making $21.4 million less than Teixeira baseball team can possibly have,” Hunter said hite’s neck. They inserted a country bar in Fullerton, or of Angel Stadium through his window. . “Nick pops into your head this season, his offensive numbers are just recently. “It’s like we were all telling ourselves, titanium plate beneath the being blindsided less than It was not until Wilhite watched an An- when you least expect it,” Jepsen says. “There as impressive. “When I lie down at night, I Hey, it’s just a game, it’s not that important, it’s skull and connected it to a 50 yards from the bar by gels game in late April on television in his are still days I come in and just stare at his think about how difficult it was to get to this nothing compared to life and death. That went titanium rod running into an allegedly drunk driver hospital room and saw the players wearing locker. It’s like it’s never going to go away.” point,” Morales says through an interpreter. on for a month—­maybe two months.” the neck, in effect creating named Andrew Gallo, who black patches on their chests embroidered Jepsen was sent down to Salt Lake City on “But it was worth it.” The malaise spread all the way to the a new spinal column. The ran a red light in his min- with number 34 that he realized what had May 4, and when he returned to the Angels Angels’ A team in Salt Lake City, procedure lasted five hours, ivan and was later arrest- occurred. “That’s Nick’s number,” Wilhite on June 10 he noticed a subtle change in the wo weeks after the crash Wilhite where Adenhart had spent the 2008 sea- and when it was over Bhatia ed after fleeing the scene. told himself. “Nick died in the crash.” clubhouse dynamic. “Guys were hanging out climbed out of his bed at the UC Ir- son. “I’d take the mound, look back at the was confident Wilhite would live. Under what (Gallo is awaiting trial on Nov. 9 for three more, talking to each other more,” Jepsen T vine Medical Center. A week after , and they’ve got their heads conditions, though, he had no idea. counts of second-degree murder.) And he n front of Angel Stadium a memorial says. “Big events either bring you together or that, when he was able to stand and take a down,” says righthander , Two days after the surgery Bhatia woke certainly could not remember being extri- to Adenhart swelled like an amoeba, tear you apart. I think this made us closer.” few steps, he left UCI for the Rehabilitation who started the season in Salt Lake be- Wilhite from a medically induced coma cated through the car’s blown-out back win- I with caps surrounded by photographs The day after Jepsen’s call‑up, the Angels Center at Long Beach Memorial Medical fore his promotion to the bigs on April 23. and pulled the endotracheal tubes from his dow by firefighters who were meticulous surrounded by teddy bears and rally mon- lost to Tampa Bay 11–1. They were a .500 Center, where he spent the next three weeks “Then I’d look in at the catcher, and he’s mouth. Wilhite started to breathe on his about stabilizing his neck and careful not keys. Box-­office employees, led by assistant team, tied with Seattle for second place in in physical therapy. Then he moved in with 1 got his head down too. How do you throw own. “That was the first step,” Bhatia says. to jostle him as they placed him gently onto ticket manager Susan Weiss, disposed of the division, 4 ⁄2 games behind Texas. “I think his parents in Murrieta, an hour southeast of a pitch if everyone’s got their head down?” “He would not need a ventilator.” a backboard. wilted flowers, picked up windblown can- we realized,” Hunter says, “that Nick was Anaheim. His speech pattern was slow. He Wilhite was flanked around the clock by A week after the surgery Wilhite was dles, brought the contents of the memorial looking down on us saying, Fellas, come on, winced every time he turned his neck. He he TV report on the accident was, his mother, Betsy; his father, Tony; older fidgeting in his bed and speaking in com- inside when rain was in the forecast and let’s get it together. I want to win.” had to wear a blindfold in the car because P in fact, wrong. Wilhite was alive. brother Michael; and younger brother, plete sentences. Mostly he made jokes at his A re‑created it when the threat had passed. The Angels won 13 of their next 16 games seeing moving traffic nauseated him. When T ­Bhatia had wanted to operate im- Chad. The first motion Jon made was to own ­expense—about his “gross beard” or The Angels wondered when the memo- to take the division lead. Hunter had been he grew impatient with his progress, he would mediately, on the morning of April 9, but Wil- squeeze his mother’s hand. The first word his “head falling off”—to ease the tension rial would stop expanding. It never did. carrying the team offensively, but he started reach into his wallet and pull out a photo

hite had too many other ­injuries—collapsed he spoke was, “Mom.” The family rejoiced. with his many visitors. But he also asked Carlson/Chris “Even now, when I leave here at 11 p.m., to get some help from first baseman Kendry of himself wearing the halo, which never

Sports IllustrateD | september 14, 2009 september 14, 2009 | Sports IllustrateD

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failed to remind him how far he had come. ducked the question, but the honest answer through Sunday, and their starting rotation Wilhite and his mother returned to Ana- is yes. “I am a Dodgers fan,” Wilhite said, was finally taking shape. Lefthander Scott heim in June to thank the doctors, nurses, “but because of what’s happened, I’m con- Kazmir, acquired in a trade on Aug. 28 from paramedics and firefighters who had helped nected to the Angels for life.” Tampa Bay, has been tinkering with his de- him. He got a tattoo of Bhatia’s signature livery for most of the summer and saw his beneath the scar on the back of his neck. When ust as the Angels found their groove, ERA jump to 5.92. But he has reunited with Chad asked why he couldn’t get a tattoo like Hunter and Guerrero went on the dis- Butcher, his former pitching coach, and pro- his brother, their father cracked, “If your head J abled list on July 10, and fans braced for vides an intriguing postseason option. For his falls off, maybe I’ll let you get one too.” a relapse. Instead the team won 12 of its next career, he has a 2.53 ERA against the Yankees Wilhite went to rehab four days a week at 13 and shot to the top of the majors in runs, and a 3.59 ERA against the Red Sox, the team Rancho Physical Therapy in Murrieta, jogging hits and batting average. In recent years the that has eliminated the Angels from the play- gingerly around cones, lifting light weights, Angels had banked on pitching, defense and offs for the past two years. sometimes even throwing a baseball. For a speed, which betrayed them when the playoffs guy who had been a walk‑on at Cal State– rolled around. This year’s team is reminiscent ilhite bench-­presses 50 pounds, Fullerton, laced a pinch-hit single during the of the 2002 version, which won the World a source of embarrassment for 2007 College , caught Giants ace ­Series thanks to its top-to-­bottom strength. Whim and amazement for his doc- in the Cape Cod League and Because the Angels are so deep, it’s hard tors. His speech is still labored, but when he was coaching a youth team in Pasadena at the to pick out a headliner and equally difficult watches tape of inter­views he did shortly after time of the crash, throwing the surgery, he sees how much a baseball was the ultimate he has improved. Bhatia believes sign of progress. Kazmir has Wilhite’s ability to speak will Then, on Father’s Day, be normal by Christmas and June 21, Nick Adenhart’s a 2.53 ERA he will be fully rehabilitated friend and Nick Adenhart’s within a year, though his neck team came together. Wil- against the will always feel somewhat stiff. hite and his family drove Wilhite watches the Angels to Angel Stadium, and be- Yankees and on TV almost every night, in fore he went in he placed addition to the Dodgers. He a Cal State–Fullerton cap a 3.59 ERA bought the MLB Extra Innings on the edge of the memo- package so he can check in on rial, inscribed with the against the former college teammates Kurt names nick, courtney Suzuki, a catcher for the A’s, and and henry, along with the Red Sox. , a pitcher for the words thanks to my 3 fall guy Blue Jays. Wilhite’s big league angels. Wilhite did not The Angels hope the acquisition of friends, specifically Suzuki, know Adenhart well—they Kazmir can help stop the revolving door have raised more than $61,000 in a rotation that has used 14 starters. met through Pearson, an to help cover his medical bills aspiring ­agent—but to the Angels they were to identify a weak link. At one point three and rehabilitation costs. blood brothers. “I think they saw a little of weeks ago, every batter in the Los Angeles Wilhite flew to Oakland to throw out the Nick in me,” Wilhite said. lineup was hitting .300 or better, a feat last first pitch when the Angels played the A’s When Hunter noticed Wilhite by the An- accomplished by the Cardinals and the New in July and returned to Angel Stadium for gels’ dugout before the game, he hugged York Giants in 1930. another game later that month. He threw out him. So did pitchers and Justin Rightfielder , who was the first pitch when the Angels hosted the A’s Speier, as well as Butcher, the pitching coach unwanted as a free agent last winter, is now on Aug. 29 as part of a ceremony honoring who had been at the hospital on April 9. poised to knock in more than 100 runs for the Wilhite, Stewart and Pearson families. “You’re a true blessing,” Hunter told Wilhite. the seventh year in a row. As a bonus, Abreu For now, Wilhite is not looking too far into “I want you to know that.” Wilhite preferred has taught the free-­swinging Angels how to the future. He wants to see the Angels and to be one of the guys. “They weren’t ready work a count and wait for their pitch. the Dodgers meet in the World Series. He for me in heaven,” he said. “It was just like “You hear guys on the bench ask, ‘How wants to speak out against drunken driv- my baseball career—no one wanted me.” come he just took two strikes right down the ing. And when he is able, he wants to coach Everybody laughed. middle?’ ” says , Anaheim’s baseball again. Coaching sometimes seems Wilhite grew up in Manhattan Beach, hitting coach. “Then he goes to 3 and 2 and unlikely, but that’s when he pulls the picture rooting for the Dodgers and wearing num- still gets a base hit. That makes an impres- out of his wallet and looks at his halo. ber 14 because Scioscia was his favorite sion. We’re not biting on the pitches we used “We’ve searched to find something positive player. They were both ­lefthanded-hitting to bite on, and you can see pitchers getting that came out of that night,” said Palmer, the , and when Scioscia met Wilhite frustrated.” Angels’ pitcher. “One positive is that we have rod mar 1 on Father’s Day, he asked him, “You’re not The Angels were 5 ⁄2 games grown stronger as a team. one of those Dodgers fans are you?” Wilhite up on Texas in the AL West Now on SI.com The other is Jon Wilhite.” ± Joe Posnanski on the perennially pathetic Pittsburgh Sports IllustrateD | september 14, 2009 Pirates, at SI.com/bonus

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